Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary

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Collaborative Divorce

A method of resolving a divorce case in which both spouses hire attorneys who practice collaborative law, and the parties and attorneys sign an agreement that requires them to negotiate the divorce through a series of four-way meetings, often with the assistance of professionals such as custody evaluators, appraisers, or accountants. If the divorce cannot be settled through these meetings and one party seeks a court trial, both lawyers must withdraw and the parties must hire new lawyers. This provides a financial incentive for settling.